Latch for wagon end-gates



2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

(No Model.)

V A. R. SMITH. LATCH FOR WAGON END GATES.

Patented Dec. 5, 1893.

I m -w UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ABRAHAM B. SMITH, OF BURRTON, KANSAS.

LATCH FOR WAGON END-GATES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 509,960, dated December 5, 1893. Application filed October 27, 1892. Serial No. 450,104. (No model.)

T0 at whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ABRAHAM R. SMITH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Burrton, in the county of Harvey and State of Kansas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in. End-Gates and Latches Therefor; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention has relation to improvements in wagon end gates and latches for locking the same in position, and it consists in the peculiar construction, certain novel combinations and the adaptation of parts hereinafter described and particularly pointed out in the claims appended.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1, is an elevation of my improved gate in position upon a wagon body, and Fig. 2 is an enlarged elevation of the latch removed. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the latch.

Referring to the letters on the drawings: A, indicates the body of a wagon, which may be of any suitable construction provided with ordinary vertical grooves for the reception of an end gate B composed of two correlatively formed parts 0 and E, respectively. The part 0, is preferably provided with a recess D, and the part E, with a tongue F, fitted thereto. They are preferably hinged together,

as indicated at H, and are formed into a rigid end piece by a latch located at the bottom of the recess D and the end of the tongue F where they come together. For this purpose I provide upon one part a keeper I, and upon the other part a case L provided with a bolt J. The case is provided with a channel N, having at opposite ends right angular extensions.

M, indicates a weighted handle secured to the bolt, and adapted to travel in the channel N, and to impart reciprocatory motion to the bolt.

cast, as shown in Fig. 2, and the handle is in the downward position, its counter-weighted head will tend to hold it in that position, but to insure against accidental displacement, the lugs Pare provided. Vhen the handle is in the opposite position, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2, the lugs Q serve to hold it in the elevated position,and prevent the movement of the bolt beyond the end of its case, which might strike against some obstacle and bend it, or break the parts which secure it in place.

What I claim is- 1. The combination with a two part end gate, of a keeper secured to one part and a casing secured to the other, a channel having right angular extensions in the casing, abolt provided with a counter weighted handle adapted to move in the channel, and lugs or projections upon opposite sides of each of the angular extensions of the channel, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

2. The combination with a casing, and reciprocatory bolt, of a channel in the casing having right angular extensions, a counterweighted handle on the bolt, and lugs upon opposite sides of the right angular extension of the channel, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ABRAHAM R. SMITH.

Witnesses:

JOHN H. LINN, W. O. HINKLE. 

